Letters to the Green Bay Press-Gazette: Oct. 7

ALLOUEZ - The First Amendment protects our right of free speech, right of assembly, and the freedom of the press. However, even this most important amendment to our Constitution (there’s a reason it’s the First Amendment, folks) has been subject to certain limitations. For instance, one cannot yell “fire” in a crowded theater in order to create a panic. There are slander and libel laws that establish boundaries for what the press can do. Etc., etc. The vast majority of our citizens accept these limitations as reasonable.

The Second Amendment protects our right to bear arms. (I won’t get into the “well-regulated militia” language that I personally think is conveniently ignored by the gun lobby — that’s another conversation.) Yet, whenever anyone proposes reasonable limitations on that right, such as universal background checks or prohibiting regular citizens from possessing military-style assault weapons, people lose their minds and immediately scream that the proponents of these measures “are trying to take away our guns.” In the meantime, thousands of our citizens get blown away every year.

Question: If we are able to put reasonable limitations on our most precious right of free speech, why can’t we accept similar limitations on our right to possess firearms?

Alf Langan

Organic misconceptions

STURGEON BAY - After reading “Fighting Off Imposters” in Monday's paper, I can understand why people are so confused by "organic" labeled products. So much misinformation about what "organic" means.

Sadly, your article continued to spread one of the biggest misconceptions. Organic does not mean "it's free of pesticides" as your article states. It means it is free of synthetic (man-made) pesticides. There are numerous (naturally occurring) pesticides available including sulfur, some copper-based products, soaps, clay, oils, etc. Like synthetic pesticides, they have been thoroughly scientifically reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency and found to be safe for use on food.

Another misconception is that organically-produced food is more nutritious than conventionally-produced food. There are studies that support the claim of "more nutritious" by both production methods. However, the data does not conclusively support either side's claim. What scientists can agree on is that the most nutritious food is produced when a plant or animal has the right amount of nutrients, good environmental conditions (sunlight, water, space to grow) and is disease- and pest-free.

Charles Baer

Get serious about gun regulations

GREEN BAY - It is well past time to get serious about common-sense gun regulation in the United States. Having said that, it is important to note that the NRA is not primarily a hunting advocacy organization. If it were, it would not side with mineral extraction industries in repealing rules like the planning 2.0 rule that is strongly supported by conservation groups.

The NRA is a gun and ammo advocacy group, and its extreme stance on what is a common-sense firearm has a lot to do with the fact that the United States is the only country on the planet that regularly has gun-created mass murders and off-the-charts gun suicides and homicides.

If what recently happened in Las Vegas seems normal to you, support the NRA. If not, please look into what the NRA really stands for.

One can support the Second Amendment without being extreme. We need to draw a stricter line on personal ownership of firearms. If we don't, get ready for many more prayer days and half-staff flags.

Bob Weekes

Thoughts, prayers don’t cut it; it’s time for action

DE PERE - A mentally ill young man walking into a school and gunning down 6-year olds didn’t do it.

An admitted racist strolling into a church and assassinating worshippers didn’t do it.

A homophobe sneaking into a gay nightclub and peppering bullets on folks dancing joyfully didn’t do it.

A disgruntled anti-conservative opening fire at a congressional baseball practice didn’t do it.

An erratic multimillionaire with a cache of weapons spraying armor-piercing ammunition on hundreds of concertgoers from a hotel room isn’t going to do it.

Because as long as these types of weapons and ammunition are easily obtainable, these attacks won’t stop.

To be clear — this isn’t about taking guns away or an attack on the Second Amendment. It’s about our ability, our children’s ability, our friends’ ability, to live our lives -- be it at work, school, church, concert or ballgame -- without fear of being gunned down.

Thoughts and prayers don’t cut it. They haven’t then, they don’t now, and they won’t in the future.

We need our elected leaders to take a stand. This should be nonpartisan. This should be free of any involvement or monetary influence from the NRA. Our leaders must sit down and evaluate what is and is not necessary regarding firearms, what’s available for sale, how easy it is to obtain weapons of mass destruction, how we educate folks on gun laws and gun safety, and the attention we pay to mental health awareness and support for those who may hurt themselves or others.

Please. It’s time.

Kristin Karnitz

When do we reach tipping point?

BELLEVUE - How long will it take for the tipping point to arrive when we'll no longer tolerate the slaughter or serious injury to completely innocent victims?

Not soon, I'm afraid. On the horizon, I only see a feckless president and Congress, who are noted for attempts to sabotage environmental and health protections.

Laws that have been enacted permit concealed carry, open carry, and allow individuals to possess personal arsenals of military-style weapons. The current laws allow either cursory or no background checks or waiting period.

Relatedly, I'm not aware of any local or national incidents involving sports persons who await his or her prey while armed with an AR-15 or an Uzi.

Like Obamacare, the gun laws may need some "tweaking."

John Neumann

Consider the Fair Tax bill

GREEN BAY - Now that the Republicans' tax plan framework has been released, it's obvious this is just more of the same. With this new session of Congress alone, there's already over 900 bills to modify the existing tax code and I'm sure this framework would keep it up. The fact so many attempts are made to change the tax code, and in ways most people won't even notice, is troubling.

That is why I suggest everyone to look into the Fair Tax bill (HR25/S18). It's past time to strip the income tax all together, including the myth that is corporate taxes (all taxes are eventually paid by individuals). With the Fair Tax, you take home more of your pay with the elimination of federal withholding for both income and FICA taxes. In its place is a single 23% inclusive/30% exclusive sales tax on new goods and services above the poverty line. That means you can buy the basic necessities tax-free, the poorest are virtually tax-free, and your real effective rate is naturally progressive based on spending choices.

This plan surpasses every goal in the Republican framework, it closes the door on the nearly $700 billion in tax evasion (which no other plan even addresses), and has broad reaching positive effects in multiple topics of political interest. Best of all, forget doing your taxes on a postcard. With the Fair Tax, there is no tax filing unless you're a retailer, and those businesses would be compensated for the effort.

Scott Monroe

Peaceful protests don’t insult the flag

GREEN BAY - Today I've read many letters regarding the Green Bay Packers players linking their arms during the anthem. Most proclaimed their indignation to this action questioning if this was the right place for the players to express their feelings. At least two points come to mind in response to those offended.

First, go and reread the Constitution. Note the First Amendment and the protection of free speech. Maybe we don't always agree with the opinions expressed or where and when they are expressed, but that is the cost of free speech.

This brings me to the second point. Where was all this indignation after the Charlottesville, Va., demonstration by white supremacists and neo-Nazis? I seem to remember tens of millions of people killed because of the swastika and those who believed in that ideology. If there is a symbol and an action that insults the flag and those who died defending it, it was performed by those who marched and carried that swastika.

Someone's peaceful expression of dissatisfaction with what they view as unjust treatment does not insult me or our flag. They are exercising their freedoms protected by our Constitution just as the white supremacists did in Charlottesville. Perhaps the real question is can you tell the difference between the two?

Michael Kusch

Proposed OWI Court is the right move

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach is right to include funding for an OWI Court to address repeat impaired driving (“Brown County Exec Troy Streckenbach to propose OWI treatment court for repeat offenders,” Sept. 29, 2017). Repeat impaired drivers are overrepresented in fatal crashes making them the single most dangerous drivers on the road. As evidence by their continued impaired driving following numerous arrests, punishment simply is not enough to make them change their behavior.

OWI Court combines strict accountability and supervision with treatment to address the addiction that drives their dangerous behavior. The research is clear: OWI Courts reduce recidivism by up to 60 percent. But there is more good news. OWI Courts save money, an incredible $3.19 for every $1 invested.

According to the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility, 68.8% of impaired driving fatalities in Wisconsin were caused by drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.15 percent or greater. In addition to focusing on repeat offenders, Brown County should consider making high BAC drivers eligible for OWI Court. Adopting screening and assessment tools to identify OWI offenders with substance use and mental health disorders can also help ensure the limited spots available in the program are used by the drivers who need them most.

Solutions exist for lowering the number of deaths and crashes attributed to impaired driving, the time has come to take full advantage of them. Brown County is taking the right approach.